Amalfi Coast

Come to Italy and everyone will seem to mention the importance of visiting the Amalfi Coast--they're not wrong. While a good half day trip from Rome, it's worth a visit. We stayed in Sorrento, about an hour train ride from Naples and a rather bustling tourist destination (although mostly Brits). Tourism is really the only game in town, and there are countless hotels, restaurants, and cheap souvenir shops. Sorrento is much quieter than its neighbor

Naples but still has the lodging and food options to make it a good hub for your Amalfi adventures, especially if you are doing things on the a tight budget. The streets wind high into the hills, giving you great views of the surrounding citrus groves and turquoise ocean--they will also give you strong calves.

An hour ferry ride will also take you from Sorrento to Positano, an even more picturesque hill town. Smaller and more uniformed, its buildings feel almost carved out of the hills. Bright purple and fuchsia bougainvillea spill over terraces and hibiscus, birds of paradise, and amaryllis stand out sharply from white walls in their terracotta pots. Pasitano is also slightly more upscale than Sorrento and you should expect to spend another 20% or so on your food--although it seemed worth it. The town has galleries and upscale boutiques and the tourism feels directed to a wealthier class. It also feels a little like shopping at the Northern Oregon Coast. A half day in town seemed sufficient to wander some beautiful shops, take in a great meal, and realize that no one in town seemed be selling a simple cappuccino from the bar or have a little green grocery or market to make a basic meal of bread, cheese, and fruit. Positano was a beautiful place to visit, but felt a little out of my league.